What It's Like To...

Mike Rohde: Sketchnote Inventor and Visual Thinker

June 08, 2022 Elizabeth Pearson Garr Season 3 Episode 3
What It's Like To...
Mike Rohde: Sketchnote Inventor and Visual Thinker
Show Notes

What do all of these things have in common:  designer, author,  teacher, illustrator, creator?  One answer: Mike Rohde.  Another answer: visual thinking.  If you don't know what visual thinking is, or don't think you are a visual person, Mike has made it his mission to convince you--and me--that we all are visual thinkers!  He even created a new way of taking notes, called Sketchnoting, that combines words and drawings and already has tens of thousands of converts.  

This episode covers:

  • description of a visual thinker (01:13)
  • definition of sketchnoting and possible templates (03:57)
  • examples of Mike sketchnoting meals (at Chez Panisse) and travel experiences (Washington, DC and Alaska) (14:31)
  • why listening is a secret weapon of sketchnoting (18:49)
  • how Mike approaches illustrating books (21:06)
  • how it feels to see others using the technique he created (29:37)
  • when is a good age for kids to start learning sketchnoting (30:53)
  • possible future of sketchnoting (35:04)

... and why Mike once considered giving people just starting out a "diploma" saying, "You have the permission to suck at sketchnoting"!

As promised in the episode, here are links to some of Mike's sketchnotes:

  • from his meal at Chez Panisse: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohdesign/albums/72157624361290783
  • from his trip to Washington, DC: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohdesign/albums/72157626454253117
  • additional images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohdesign/
  • making of The Sketchnote Handbook: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rohdesign/albums/72157629385456752

It's always the right time to try something new, and Mike says we are all up to the task!


Want to know more about Mike?

  • go to his website: rohdesign.com
  • follow him on Instagram: rohdesign
  • find him on Twitter: twitter.com/rohdesign
  • link up with him on LinkedIn: mikerohde
  • watch his YouTube channel:  https://youtube.com/channel/UCe1elri6WQzEOc7tD18EZOg
  • information about The Sketchnote Handbook:  https://rohdesign.com/handbook
  • information about The Sketchnote Workbook: https://rohdesign.com/workbook
  • information about The Sketchnote Ideabook: https://sketchnoteideabook.com/


Want to know more about The Experience Podcast?

  • Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to theexperiencepodcast.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
  • Follow us on social media:



Support the show